Osteospermum plant named ‘Astra Snowwhite’

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  cultivar particularly distinguished by small, bright white flowers, early flowering, good garden performance in the summer and a compact plant habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Astra Snowwhite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofosteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Astra Snowwhite’. ‘Astra Snowwhite’originated from crossbreeding in March 2003 in Quedlinburg, Germany. Thefemale parent was an osteospermum plant with white flowers. The maleparent was an osteospermum plant with cream flowers.

The new cultivar was first propagated in summer of 2006 from motherstock and has been asexually reproduced through vegetative cuttings forfour generations. The present invention has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Quedlinburg, Germany.

-   -   1. Small bright white flowers;    -   2. Early flowering;    -   3. Good garden performance during the summer; and    -   4. Compact plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant in full color, the colors shown being as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Astra Snowwhite’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inQuedlinburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Data was collected on plantspropagated in the spring and the observations were made in October inthe open field. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (4^(th) ed).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Compositae.        -   Botanical.—Osteospermum hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum plant with white flowers.        -   Male parent.—Osteospermum plant with cream flowers.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Upright, bushy.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Compact, upright growing with            basal branching.        -   Height.—30.0 cm to 50.0 cm.        -   Width.—Radius: 15.0 cm to 25.0 cm. Diameter: 30.0 cm to 50.0            cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 to 12 weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 to 6 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine rooting system, with white to light            brown roots.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Dextrorse or Sinistrorse.        -   Shape.—Soft, but rough surface.        -   Apex.—Spiky.        -   Base.—Longish running to the stem.        -   Margin.—Weakly ridged.        -   Immature leaf.—General color: RHS 136B (Dark green). Upper            surface: RHS 137B (Dark green). Lower surface: RHS 137C            (Lighter green).        -   Mature leaf.—General color: RHS 139A (Dark green). Upper            surface: RHS 137A (Dark green). Lower surface: RHS 137B            (Lighter green).        -   Length.—4.0 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Petioles.—Petioles winged by the leaf nearly direct to the            branches.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches.—40 to 70.        -   Length.—30.0 cm to 50.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Radius: 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.6            cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137D (Light green with some anthocyanin).        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Oval to longish.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Radius: 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm to 1.0            cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137D (Light green).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Small flower (Astra) type.        -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—May to November.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—30 to 60.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—About 7            days, but very much dependent on irrigation, fertilizer and            temperature.        -   Fragrance.—Soft.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Radius: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter:            3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Radius: 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.6 cm to            1.2 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—50 to 70.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Tube color (closed).—RHS 92A (Violet getting darker to the            tip), Lower part RHS 137C (Light green).        -   Tube color (mature).—RHS 92A (Violet getting darker to the            tip), Lower part RHS 138A (Light green).        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—Radius: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1            cm.        -   Apex.—Relatively flat.        -   Apex color.—RHS 92A (Violet).        -   Base.—RHS 138D (Soft green).        -   Margin.—Fused until about 0.3 cm before apex.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—20.        -   Shape.—Longish to oval.        -   Color.—RHS 155D (White), at base RHS 92A (Violet). Upper            surface: RHS 155D (White). Lower surface: RHS 92A (Violet            striped).        -   Length.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 to 0.7 cm.        -   Apex.—Nearly round, a little bit ridged.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: Radius: 1.5 cm            to 2.5 cm. Diameter: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Texture: Soft. Color:            RHS 155D to RHS 83C (White to purple).-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Not fused.        -   Quantity.—16.        -   Shape.—Longish.        -   Color.—RHS 138C (Light green). Upper surface: RHS 138C            (Light green). Lower surface: RHS 138B (Darker green).        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Very spiky.        -   Base.—Running broad into the flower base.        -   Margin.—Lower part nearly transparent, at the tip RHS 138B            (Green).        -   Texture.—Rough, pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Ray florets and Disc florets. Stamens:            Quantity: 5. Shape: Longish. Color: RHS 83A (Dark purple).            Filament length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Filament diameter:            Radius: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.            Anther: Shape: Longish. Color: RHS 83A (Dark purple).            Length: 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm. Diameter: Radius: Less than            0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 25A            (Bright-orange). Amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Disc florets. Pistils: Number: 1.            Length: 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. Diameter: Radius: Less than            0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 92A            (Violet). Shape: Round. Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter:            Radius: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Style:            Color: RHS 155C (Nearly white). Length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.            Diameter: Radius: Less than 0.1 cm. Diameter: Less than            0.1 cm. Shape: Cylindrical.-   Seeds:    -   -   Color.—RHS 165A (Brown).        -   Length.—0.4 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Radius: 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.4            cm.        -   Shape.—Triangular to flat.-   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance and susceptibility is    typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘Astra Snowwhite’ differs from the female parent plant in that thefemale parent is larger and has fewer flowers than ‘Astra Snowwhite’.

‘Astra Snowwhite’ differs from the male parent plant in that the maleparent has fewer flowers than ‘Astra Snowwhite’. Additionally, ‘AstraSnowwhite’ has a white flower color, while the male parent has a creamflower color.

‘Astra Snowwhite’ differs from commercial Osteospermum variety‘Brightside’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,596) in that ‘Astra Snowwhite’ hasa more compact growth habit and smaller leaves. Additionally, ‘AstraSnowwhite’ has smaller flowers than that of ‘Brightside’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant as described andshown herein.